Handy Hints, Gadgets, Products & Gizmos

[GizmosMom]

Another member suggested a new forum section with new products but it doesn't look like it will be feasible. So I thought I would post this here under General RVing Issues. If enough people post (even if you have mentioned it before in another post) we can keep it near the top?

Do you have a handy hint, a new product or an old product that makes your RVing or Camping much better?

(Sorry, no commercial advertising allowed)

I'll start:

Someone in the Camping Van posted a reference to using a Super-Chamois to wipe down their shower. I have been using an icky old thick sponge and I like the chamois idea so much more.

Now I want to hear what works for you

[Northern_Zaks]

Here's a few quick ideas:

When I am peeling veggies, I peel them directly into a disposable bag then tie it up and throw the whole thing into my main garbage. No peels to pick up and the bag within a bag helps to keep the smell down until the main garbage is full.

I leave a bowl of water with a tiny amount of bleach in it outside our camper door so folks aren't running in and out to wash their hands. Paper towels are put directly into the fire for later burning.

One more: My MIL taught me to control the TP going down into the black tank by putting a bag in the bathroom for used "yellow" TP. Empty the bag often (of course); no smell and you would be surprised how much TP will be removed without going through the black tank. She came up with this after a nasty incident with TP stuck inside the black tank on the sensor.

I am getting some very good ideas from this thread; let's keep it going!

[paulnnan]

Here's my favorite camping kitchen tool: The Tupperware Quick Shake, or a similar cup for mixing powdered diet drinks or such. It has a little mixing wheel that fits inside a pour spout top and snaps onto a 16 oz measuring cup. Great for all those things you might use an egg beater for, but clean up is soo much easier. I use it for beating eggs, pancake mix and Williams country gravy mix ( don't forget to bring the biscuits!)

Second on my list is a jar opening gadget that just breaks the vacuum seal on screw top jars. The lids just twist open without any effort. It's plastic and looks like an oversized bottle cap opener. Linens and Things and Bed, Bath & Beyond carry them. Much better than all those plastic gripper things.

I have a question, too. My Suburban stove has one big grate over the entire cooktop and it is slippery! Any one have any ideas how to safely make it or my pots less slick so they don't skedaddle away when I stir or flip? Of course I hold a handle with one hand, but there's always that time when I forget; hate to land a pot of hot chili on the floor one night!

This is fun!

[ckndave]

The LD we bought has one of those spray thingies next to the toilet. It really works well!

CK

[ak_traveler]

Alderman wrote:
I cut the water line going to the toilet and installed a T-connection and clamped a sink sprayer with hose to the T-connection. After using the toilet, it is possible to spray out anything that sticks to the side of the toilet. The DW really likes this attachment.

I like this idea! I'm gonna do the same to our fiver. This is one tip that will come in VERY handy in our family!

Great thread...someone take the initiative whenever it falls down the list to give it a *bump* and bring it back to the top!

[LAP]

We have our first ever 5th wheel on order and will be picking it up on July 31th. This thread has been fabulous. I've even taken notes. Hope this thread stays up top, so others can beneifit from it and more people can continue to add to it. Hopefully after a little experience, I will be able to contribute something to all these great ideas.......
Thanks

[Jambo31]

This thread is great! I love all the tips and such, so I'll throw one in... for the toiletry items that we constantly use, the DW bought 2 plastic baskets with suction cups on them from the local 99cent store. They measure about 6" long, 2.5" wide, and about 4-5 inches deep. ONce we're hooked up, they get stuck on the bottom of the bathroom mirror and don't move until we take them down.

[FredAr]

Billsmax: Good list.

I have shelved the main closet, rewired the stereo and have 4-way on the back bedroom, cup holders all over as well as shelves for books, magazine racks (+3), entertainment center all tricked out with racks, roll carpets, changed 4-seat dining table, recessed lightning replacing all the original lights, extended the kitchen counter, main switch bank for all lights (AC & DC), added slide outs for all basement compartments, added door hatchets to Generators from the inside, 3 Inverters for entertainment units (not to have to start a generator), AC main accessible from front and back of unit, and on and on and on..

The day I sell my TT be a sad day indeed.

[JerryofWV]

We are diet coke drinkers so we use the hang up shoe bags for two liters. They fit perfect and don't roll around or fall over.

To go with the diet cokes we bought an ice maker from Home Depot. It was on sale for $149 and looks like the ones for $3-400 at camping stores. You don't have to plumb it, just dump a gallon of water in it and you've got ice in 6 or 7 minutes.

[wa8yxm]

I use a short metal rod with rubber "Crutch Tips" on it for assorted things, It lets me turn on/off the overhead light at the driver's seat of my Motor Home ,or I can prss the on switch (or the A/B switch) on my back up monitor so I have a rear view television. (Or side view)

Oh yes, I have a gasser, not a DP, thus the fuel filler is what, 20, 25 feet back from where I'm sitting. You ever try to line up on a gas pump when it's that far back (Trust me, not easy) Well I get them lined up first try every time since In installed a small "Bullet" camera right below the gas cap. It's the "B" channel on my back up monitor

[Alderman]

This is a really great Thread. Just a couple other things I have done to my camper. I cut the water line going to the toilet and installed a T-connection and clamped a sink sprayer with hose to the T-connection. After using the toilet, it is possible to spray out anything that sticks to the side of the toilet. The DW really likes this attachment.

When pulling into a camp ground I always ask the attendant what county I'm in incase of a weather emergency. It helps when watching the weather if I can find out where the county is on the map too. It has saved my awning and other camping gear on more than one occasion.

[anarion55]

3 dog nights wrote:
Also to get the "stuff" from sticking to the bowl. Carry one of those big soaker water guns. Have fun while in the can!

To Fullmoonoversalem: Yes you could run an air compressor thru the copper pipe and create a blowtorch, but you need to drive the compressor with a generator. Preferably 10hp or larger. Or it you really need to play with this idea why not get a leaf blower and attach progressively smaller pipes to the end and run that into the fire!

Those small air mattress compressors (that run on 4 d-cells) work just fine the way they are, w/o the pipe... just don't get them too close or they'll melt. One of the "kids" came up with this, after trying to revive a rain-drenched fire & getting VERY dizzy in doing so. He showed up with the pump and we had a roaring blaze in no time. No hoses or wires...

[fcooper]

Installed over the door shoe holder on outside shower wall near sink to hold all the small items that always clutter the sink top. This has really helped to organize the small bath area.

Installed cheap indoor/outdoor wired thermometer with outdoor probe under hot water heater insulation so we can tell when water is hot for showers.

[GizmosMom]

I recently saw these Rubbermaid collapsible food storage containers advertised and thought they would be great storage savers for people who travel in RV's.

Has anyone tried them?

[BillsMax]

NCHORNET1,
I also use levelaire, where did you find Y adaptor. I've been looking but no luck.

[BillsMax]

I've made so many "mods" to my 5'er I'll never be able to talk myself into trading....I'd have to do them all over again on a new 5e'r.
1. Installed beveled mirrors, from Lowe's, on cabinet wall beside stove....looks great and catches splatters.
2. Made a 3' x 4' collapsable clothes line frame to mount on 5'er ladder. DW loves this!
3. Installed fishing rod holder on basement sidewall. (super handy)
4. Put small pegs in a dowel rod and can place it on top of shower enclosure to hang wet, drippy things to dry out.
5. Mounted Black & Decker Spacemaker Coffee pot under kitchen cabinet.
6. Put IR receiver in LR so could change Sat channels from Bedroom.
7. Wired in a 2500Watt invertor in basement with switch in LR to turn off and on. Ran wiring, with an outlet on it, from Invertor to entertainment console. Then I plugged TV, Sat Rrcvr, DVD & Radio into a 6 outlet extension cord concealed in cabinet. Then I just move this extension cord plug to AC outlet or invertor wiring plug, depending on which power source I'm using. Can also plug coffee maker or wife's curlers into this with another extension cord.....Dry camping not inconvenient at all.
8. Installed 10" black pipe, with removable end caps, under front of 5'er. In this I carry outdoor carpet, pole trimmer, collapsable clothes line frame & walking staffs.
9. Installed small 3" high rails (from Lowe's) around top of pantry cabinets and on top of coat closet/controls cabinet at entry. Stained them cherry, just like rest of woodwork. Blends in great and is the ideal place to keep all our visers and caps in place.

We're leaving Sat for Alaska, I hope I don't think of anymore mods I need before I leave.